Sunday, May 31, 2009
Camera Work
Filmed the Barrie Baycats tonight for Rogers. I'm starting to like doing baseball, not because I enjoy the sport or anything, but because you have to really get a feel for the camera. Daytime is more about your ability to keep a very specific shot on a still or only slowly-moving target. Filming on baseball is a lot about finding your own shots, and keeping generally still on a still or very fast-moving target. I really enjoyed finding those back-from-commercial shots and stuff. Practicing with the zoom and tilt. On that thought, it'd be fun to play around with the studio cameras since they have wheels, then there can be zoom, tilt and push/pull. Anyway, just thought I'd stress that I'm enjoying camera-work and I think I'm steadily improving.
Yesterday's grant seminar was kind of useless. The instructor was well-informed and made a solid effort to reach out to us, but the substance of the presentation was lacking. What was supposed to be a three-hour seminar on how to apply for Barrie Arts Council Grants turned into a two-hour course on how to write a pitch and a one-hour networking event. Though informative, I just didn't take anything out of the seminar.
I don't know which way I'm going to branch out here. There's some Barrie stuff that's been on my mind for a while - so I think I'd like to take the opportunity to talk about some of that.
Barrie has been petetioning to annex several thousand acres of land from the township of Innisfil. Here's some background between the two. Several years ago, Barrie Raceway came upon an opportunity to put slot machines in its establishment, but the Barrie Agricultural Society decided they didn't want gambling in their city (you know, because they weren't already gambling on horses to begin with). Innisfil then built their own raceway and put slot machines in them - the whole thing has been a great success. That money doesn't go solely to the township of Innisfil, it's distributed through the entire county of Simcoe, of which Barrie and Orillia are independent municipalities of. Barrie WILL claim the slots as their own. Furthermore, taxes of current Innisfil residents will go up significantly if their land is annexed by Barrie.
Barrie's a great city. There's little crime, there's nothing you 'need' to go to Toronto for (except work) and it's generally friendly enough. But when I grew up, Barrie had 30, 000 residents and Bayfield Street was the economic centre of the city. 20 years and 120, 000 residents later, the city hasn't changed much. Bayfield street is still a mess, Mapleview Drive(formerly Molson Park Drive) is even worse, the downtown has been under construction for the last four years and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Park Place (formlerly Molson Park) was once a lucious green park which was as pleasant to be in as it was to look at driving by. Now access is restricted and it looks like a land transplant from Afghanistan. It's a fucking desert. What an eye sore.
The fact that Barrie's only jobs are based on public service, retail and construction is just sad. Where are the businesses, Barrie? Why force the people to go to the jobs, instead of bringing the jobs to the people, like a REGULAR CITY? It doesn't help that the education centre of Barrie is a college. We stand alone as one of Canada's largest cities without a university. Simcoe University sounds awesome if you ask me. Universities bring minds. Colleges bring lazy people who want to stay at home. I know that sounds callous, but the fact is, Laurentian at Georgian is not a university, it's university courses at a college. It's designed FOR people who want to stay in Barrie - it's a community college. That's the purpose. Establishing a university would bring great minds to Barrie, who will start great things in Barrie.
To bring this back to film, I pose this question; do you seriously think I could film Soundtrack in this city? I want to. There are parts I perhaps could. But nothing from my production company will be coming from any Barrie busineses. There's nothing alluring about filming here in Barrie besides convenience for myself. The fact is, the resources and people for this job are in Toronto, and I have to go to them.
So why should Barrie get more land, when it's been proven that it hasn't had a spectacular track-record using it in the past? I'm not saying Barrie shouldn't get the land - I'm just saying I'd like to see the land used a little bit more appropriately this time around. Building cheap houses side-by-side and strip-malls everywhere is not the way to do this. Set some cheap land aside for some businesses or industry to come in, get some preliminary plans for a university. Do what I say! roar.
I don't know which way I'm going to branch out here. There's some Barrie stuff that's been on my mind for a while - so I think I'd like to take the opportunity to talk about some of that.
Barrie has been petetioning to annex several thousand acres of land from the township of Innisfil. Here's some background between the two. Several years ago, Barrie Raceway came upon an opportunity to put slot machines in its establishment, but the Barrie Agricultural Society decided they didn't want gambling in their city (you know, because they weren't already gambling on horses to begin with). Innisfil then built their own raceway and put slot machines in them - the whole thing has been a great success. That money doesn't go solely to the township of Innisfil, it's distributed through the entire county of Simcoe, of which Barrie and Orillia are independent municipalities of. Barrie WILL claim the slots as their own. Furthermore, taxes of current Innisfil residents will go up significantly if their land is annexed by Barrie.
Barrie's a great city. There's little crime, there's nothing you 'need' to go to Toronto for (except work) and it's generally friendly enough. But when I grew up, Barrie had 30, 000 residents and Bayfield Street was the economic centre of the city. 20 years and 120, 000 residents later, the city hasn't changed much. Bayfield street is still a mess, Mapleview Drive(formerly Molson Park Drive) is even worse, the downtown has been under construction for the last four years and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Park Place (formlerly Molson Park) was once a lucious green park which was as pleasant to be in as it was to look at driving by. Now access is restricted and it looks like a land transplant from Afghanistan. It's a fucking desert. What an eye sore.
The fact that Barrie's only jobs are based on public service, retail and construction is just sad. Where are the businesses, Barrie? Why force the people to go to the jobs, instead of bringing the jobs to the people, like a REGULAR CITY? It doesn't help that the education centre of Barrie is a college. We stand alone as one of Canada's largest cities without a university. Simcoe University sounds awesome if you ask me. Universities bring minds. Colleges bring lazy people who want to stay at home. I know that sounds callous, but the fact is, Laurentian at Georgian is not a university, it's university courses at a college. It's designed FOR people who want to stay in Barrie - it's a community college. That's the purpose. Establishing a university would bring great minds to Barrie, who will start great things in Barrie.
To bring this back to film, I pose this question; do you seriously think I could film Soundtrack in this city? I want to. There are parts I perhaps could. But nothing from my production company will be coming from any Barrie busineses. There's nothing alluring about filming here in Barrie besides convenience for myself. The fact is, the resources and people for this job are in Toronto, and I have to go to them.
So why should Barrie get more land, when it's been proven that it hasn't had a spectacular track-record using it in the past? I'm not saying Barrie shouldn't get the land - I'm just saying I'd like to see the land used a little bit more appropriately this time around. Building cheap houses side-by-side and strip-malls everywhere is not the way to do this. Set some cheap land aside for some businesses or industry to come in, get some preliminary plans for a university. Do what I say! roar.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Lizife
Been keeping busy. Been writing too! Managed to squeeze out the entire rescue of Detective Nathan Davis from a moving transport truck. The way it's written shouldn't be too expensive. I hope not anyway. I had always envisioned it to be the most expensive scene in the entire series, but as I was writing it I realized there's only.. five expensive/dangerous shots that I think can be accomplsihed using tricks of the eye. The way I look at it is George Lucas made the Death Star blow up in 1977, so the least I can do in 2009 is make two trucks look like they're driving real fast.
Rogers is fun. Developing a patience for D.S., and I'm not exactly patient. I just accept the role between directon and camerawork and try to shrug it off. Live television is a little bit different I suppose, a lot more stressful for the production room. I'd really like to get an opportunity to shadow directing before Daytime is out. I'd really like to get a try at trying to communicate what I want from the camera crew. I'm sure if I ever got to do it I'd have R. on audio, then J., C. and M. on camera so they'd all be pro by now, which means they'd all be good at catching what I say.
Rogers has a section about proposing a show, and although I think it's a little early to be thinking Soundtrack right now, I wouldn't mind proposing a show. I think it'd be interesting to have a show completely about local talent. Local bands, poets, artists, singers, theatre troupes, comedy acts could fill the half-hour segment, and it would contain only the same costs of operating the studio on volunteer work. I should talk to someone about it. I know it seems a little obnoxious, but I do have a Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication and I'm trying hard to make a good impression on the staff there. I feel like I've come a far way in these past few weeks. If anything I've realized just how much more there is to know. Which is why I think I should start with something small. Get some experience behind me. I'm going to write yup a business model this week, and submit it sometime after.
I feel I must at least make a public statement that Soundtrack is not, I repeat, NOT on hiatus or the backburner in ANY way. Soundtrack is a destination I will arrive at, at exactly when I expect myself too. I told P.L. on March 26th, 2009, I wanted to be casting one year from then. I believe I can still meet that goal. Here is my attempt at an original moment of zen for your pleasure.
The path is long and has many turns, but it is always right in front of you.
I don't know if I'll get a chance to mention this before I go, but I'm attending a seminar at City Hall this week on how to receive arts funding! Barrie's fortunate enough to have a great MPP, Aileen Carroll, who sits as the provincial government's Minister of Culture, so this is a great town to live in to be an aspiring artist. I use the term loosely by the way, that's just the government's definition of me.
So hope you all had a good weekend and enjoyed the weather, and you'll be hearing from me soon!
Rogers is fun. Developing a patience for D.S., and I'm not exactly patient. I just accept the role between directon and camerawork and try to shrug it off. Live television is a little bit different I suppose, a lot more stressful for the production room. I'd really like to get an opportunity to shadow directing before Daytime is out. I'd really like to get a try at trying to communicate what I want from the camera crew. I'm sure if I ever got to do it I'd have R. on audio, then J., C. and M. on camera so they'd all be pro by now, which means they'd all be good at catching what I say.
Rogers has a section about proposing a show, and although I think it's a little early to be thinking Soundtrack right now, I wouldn't mind proposing a show. I think it'd be interesting to have a show completely about local talent. Local bands, poets, artists, singers, theatre troupes, comedy acts could fill the half-hour segment, and it would contain only the same costs of operating the studio on volunteer work. I should talk to someone about it. I know it seems a little obnoxious, but I do have a Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication and I'm trying hard to make a good impression on the staff there. I feel like I've come a far way in these past few weeks. If anything I've realized just how much more there is to know. Which is why I think I should start with something small. Get some experience behind me. I'm going to write yup a business model this week, and submit it sometime after.
I feel I must at least make a public statement that Soundtrack is not, I repeat, NOT on hiatus or the backburner in ANY way. Soundtrack is a destination I will arrive at, at exactly when I expect myself too. I told P.L. on March 26th, 2009, I wanted to be casting one year from then. I believe I can still meet that goal. Here is my attempt at an original moment of zen for your pleasure.
The path is long and has many turns, but it is always right in front of you.
I don't know if I'll get a chance to mention this before I go, but I'm attending a seminar at City Hall this week on how to receive arts funding! Barrie's fortunate enough to have a great MPP, Aileen Carroll, who sits as the provincial government's Minister of Culture, so this is a great town to live in to be an aspiring artist. I use the term loosely by the way, that's just the government's definition of me.
So hope you all had a good weekend and enjoyed the weather, and you'll be hearing from me soon!
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Storage Facility
I got off my ass today and wrote a couple of pages in Episode 3: 401. I gave some subtance to the exchange between Eddie and Cain. I gave Eddie a reason to be in this and something to bargain with. I gave Cain a reasonable reaction to the information about Derek - and a decent way for him to hear it.
It wasn't much, but I was happy with what I put out today and I thought I'd mention it.
It wasn't much, but I was happy with what I put out today and I thought I'd mention it.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Collingwood
May 17 2009
So I'm currently in Collingwood at my friend E.B.'s chalet. The group of them had wanted to see Star Trek again, but I've already seen it twice and that's enough. So I'm staying here, taking some time off drinking for the weekend and blogging some thoughts about television and life.
I started spreading the word about the third dinner. Camp-out at Dustin's, tents, fire, smores the whole shabang. But unfortunately I haven't been making the progress I'd like to on Episode 3. What I should try and remember is that I had this problem with Episode 2, and I was honestly happier and more satisfied with Episode 2 than 1. I'll make an effort on Tuesday to put some solid ideas on paper and finish the skeleton and first draft of Episode 3 before moving on to a more refined version.
In the news; Barrie Mediagate 2009 seems to be winding down. I've read most of the responses to my editorial, and I have one only rebuttal; learn the difference between internships and volunteering before you make it the cornerstone of your argument. I haven't been compelled to write any counter-arguments to the Examiner because I simply feel like no one has given me something worth responding to outside debating semantics. The blog is certainly a better place to hold these debates.
The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission released a notice this past week that it would not seek to implement whats being called the "1-for-1" rule. This rule essentially seeks to correct the bidding wars for foreign programmes by Canadian stations. The CRTC claims that over three quarters of a billion dollars is spent each year by Canadian networks on purchasing foreign shows. What the 1-for-1 rule would essentially impose is for every dollar Canadian networks spend on purchasing American productions, they spend a dollar on purchasing Canadian productions. This is excellent news for me and it comes at a perfect time.
Next week American networks begin screening the slate of Fall television pilots for purchase by domestic and foreign networks. I'm sure this means there's some very lucky people watching some very rudimentary television pilots very soon, but it also means it's too soon for the CRTC to be implementing a new rule such as this. It would give Canadian networks a little over a week to reconsider their scheduling, production and budgets - which I'm sure isn't enough time. The CRTC in their infinite wisdom have decided to instead reschedule the 1-for-1 rule to be implemented in 2010 rather than the coming 2009 season. This gives me both time and hope to continue working on the series for a Fall 2010 debut. That also means this time next year I should be coming off the tail end of putting in a hell of a lot of work into the pilot - which makes me think I should get on to some of the more important aspects of pre-production. All in good time.
Rogers is going fine. Nothing really new to report there. Getting the hang of camera operation; starting to feel a little bit more comfortable behind the camera and being at the studio in general. R.M., the Director of Volunteer Services for Rogers Barrie couldn't have been more sincere when saying how respectful employees of the studio would be towards us volunteers. With competence comes confidence, but I couldn't have done either without the instruction and support of the Rogers program.
Not sure what else there is to say lately. Been having a good weekend, still one more night of fun drinking times to go! Then back to the 9-5 life. Hope everyone is well and having a great weekend. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you all again soon.
So I'm currently in Collingwood at my friend E.B.'s chalet. The group of them had wanted to see Star Trek again, but I've already seen it twice and that's enough. So I'm staying here, taking some time off drinking for the weekend and blogging some thoughts about television and life.
I started spreading the word about the third dinner. Camp-out at Dustin's, tents, fire, smores the whole shabang. But unfortunately I haven't been making the progress I'd like to on Episode 3. What I should try and remember is that I had this problem with Episode 2, and I was honestly happier and more satisfied with Episode 2 than 1. I'll make an effort on Tuesday to put some solid ideas on paper and finish the skeleton and first draft of Episode 3 before moving on to a more refined version.
In the news; Barrie Mediagate 2009 seems to be winding down. I've read most of the responses to my editorial, and I have one only rebuttal; learn the difference between internships and volunteering before you make it the cornerstone of your argument. I haven't been compelled to write any counter-arguments to the Examiner because I simply feel like no one has given me something worth responding to outside debating semantics. The blog is certainly a better place to hold these debates.
The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission released a notice this past week that it would not seek to implement whats being called the "1-for-1" rule. This rule essentially seeks to correct the bidding wars for foreign programmes by Canadian stations. The CRTC claims that over three quarters of a billion dollars is spent each year by Canadian networks on purchasing foreign shows. What the 1-for-1 rule would essentially impose is for every dollar Canadian networks spend on purchasing American productions, they spend a dollar on purchasing Canadian productions. This is excellent news for me and it comes at a perfect time.
Next week American networks begin screening the slate of Fall television pilots for purchase by domestic and foreign networks. I'm sure this means there's some very lucky people watching some very rudimentary television pilots very soon, but it also means it's too soon for the CRTC to be implementing a new rule such as this. It would give Canadian networks a little over a week to reconsider their scheduling, production and budgets - which I'm sure isn't enough time. The CRTC in their infinite wisdom have decided to instead reschedule the 1-for-1 rule to be implemented in 2010 rather than the coming 2009 season. This gives me both time and hope to continue working on the series for a Fall 2010 debut. That also means this time next year I should be coming off the tail end of putting in a hell of a lot of work into the pilot - which makes me think I should get on to some of the more important aspects of pre-production. All in good time.
Rogers is going fine. Nothing really new to report there. Getting the hang of camera operation; starting to feel a little bit more comfortable behind the camera and being at the studio in general. R.M., the Director of Volunteer Services for Rogers Barrie couldn't have been more sincere when saying how respectful employees of the studio would be towards us volunteers. With competence comes confidence, but I couldn't have done either without the instruction and support of the Rogers program.
Not sure what else there is to say lately. Been having a good weekend, still one more night of fun drinking times to go! Then back to the 9-5 life. Hope everyone is well and having a great weekend. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you all again soon.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A-Channel, Rogers and Community Media
Stardate, May 14th, 10:24pm:
Captain's log. I've been involved in volunteer efforts with Rogers Television for the past week or so. It's a terrific program. Really, I can't say enough about how great this experience is. One week ago I'd never stepped behind a camera, now I can somewhat operate one. That's a good skill to have when you're trying to get in to television production.
I was published by the Barrie Examiner in a Letter to the Editor in response to a similar letter first published by Peggy Hebden, Station Manager of A-Channel. You can find the link to that here; http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1564892 ; but since this was an edited copy, I'd like to attach a copy of the full version I had e-mailed to editor Bob Burton, but was told it would only fit if it was half its size(that's what she said).
The economic crisis has taken its toll on many industries, media included. The most recent Letter to the Editor from A-Channel Station Chief, Peggy Hebden, although informed, reeks of bias from a network that has failed to meet the needs of its community.
Local media serves one of two purposes. It either acts as a companion to mainstream media, or as an alternative. The simple question in determining A-Channel's worth to the community comes in identifying which of these two services the network is providing to Barrie and its surrounding area.
As this is an editorial, I'm going to save myself a lot of words and jump straight to the conclusion that A-Channel is a companion to mainstream media. The stories A-Channel has been reporting on are nothing short of the same headlines reported on national and local broadcasts coming out of most major cities. The bulk of its non-news programming is imported from larger networks unable to accommodate them in their scheduling. Its efforts to reach out to the community are becoming substantially insignificant.
A-Channel stands alone in the Barrie area as one of the only media outlets which does not co-ordinate a volunteer program to educate local youth in media production. It stands alone as one of the hardest networks to reach for comment, as evidenced by several personal attempts to receive network feedback for a paper based on the value of local media. Throughout the years, its programming has become more and more distant from the community it serves.
So what alternative is A-Channel providing the residents of Simcoe County? Its news programming mirrors that of national networks. It's non-news programming mirrors that of national networks. Though A-Channel, formerly The NewVR has provided an alternative in the past, its growing reach into York Region and national headlines have left us with nothing more than an expensive sister-station to national networks.
Hebden pleads in her final paragraph for the support of its audience during these tough economic times. I have only one response; No Peggy, we need YOUR support. A shift to more community-based broadcasting and providing an alternative to the mainstream networks we can find anywhere else is what we both need - or A-Channel will simply become increasingly unnecessary, and obsolete.
There have been rebuttals by A-Channel high-ups, including evening news anchor Lance Chilton and while I'm going to avoid an all-out Barrie Examiner editorial war, I'd like to defend my position here.
When I first started watching A-Channel it was known as CKVR and provided local news to Barrie and the surrounding area. Somewhere between CKVR and A-Channel, we lost that same local station. For one, the news isn't about Barrie and surrounding area anymore. It's occasionally about Barrie, and more often about the '905 Belt' and the municipalities south of Simcoe. I can't remember the last time I saw a locally-produced program on their primetime lineup.
As the former employee of what I'll leave to be an unnamed public-service, I'll tell you personally that A-Channel is one of the most difficult media outlets to get in contact with regarding issues important to Barrie's citizens. Furthermore, as a communications student at Carleton this past year, the cutbacks to A-Channel earlier this year inspired me to write a paper about the importance of community media and the need for networks like the former New VR to exist. After several attempts to reach the network for comment, I received no word back. The conclusion I reached at the end of the paper is A-Channel no longer fit the criteria for community media. If A-Channel is unwilling to help itself, why should we pay the bill via bailout funds to assist it?
I opened this entry with a paragraph on my experiences with Rogers for a reason; that is that there is a difference between an intern and a volunteer. This is for you, Mr. Lance Chilton; A volunteer comes in whenever he or she wants to, and participates only as much or as little as they wish. They decide their own level of involvement, commitment and create their own schedule that works around them. An intern is the equivilant of an unpaid employment position, with set hours and menial duties.
I'm going to at least send a link to the Barrie Examiner, Bob Burton, to this blog, as I feel that in this digital age we don't need to continue this bickering through a newspaper. For those who've come here through the Examiner, thank you for taking an interest in community media, and I hope you realize how little A-Channel fits that profile. Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for updates on
Soundtrack.
Captain's log. I've been involved in volunteer efforts with Rogers Television for the past week or so. It's a terrific program. Really, I can't say enough about how great this experience is. One week ago I'd never stepped behind a camera, now I can somewhat operate one. That's a good skill to have when you're trying to get in to television production.
I was published by the Barrie Examiner in a Letter to the Editor in response to a similar letter first published by Peggy Hebden, Station Manager of A-Channel. You can find the link to that here; http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1564892 ; but since this was an edited copy, I'd like to attach a copy of the full version I had e-mailed to editor Bob Burton, but was told it would only fit if it was half its size(that's what she said).
The economic crisis has taken its toll on many industries, media included. The most recent Letter to the Editor from A-Channel Station Chief, Peggy Hebden, although informed, reeks of bias from a network that has failed to meet the needs of its community.
Local media serves one of two purposes. It either acts as a companion to mainstream media, or as an alternative. The simple question in determining A-Channel's worth to the community comes in identifying which of these two services the network is providing to Barrie and its surrounding area.
As this is an editorial, I'm going to save myself a lot of words and jump straight to the conclusion that A-Channel is a companion to mainstream media. The stories A-Channel has been reporting on are nothing short of the same headlines reported on national and local broadcasts coming out of most major cities. The bulk of its non-news programming is imported from larger networks unable to accommodate them in their scheduling. Its efforts to reach out to the community are becoming substantially insignificant.
A-Channel stands alone in the Barrie area as one of the only media outlets which does not co-ordinate a volunteer program to educate local youth in media production. It stands alone as one of the hardest networks to reach for comment, as evidenced by several personal attempts to receive network feedback for a paper based on the value of local media. Throughout the years, its programming has become more and more distant from the community it serves.
So what alternative is A-Channel providing the residents of Simcoe County? Its news programming mirrors that of national networks. It's non-news programming mirrors that of national networks. Though A-Channel, formerly The NewVR has provided an alternative in the past, its growing reach into York Region and national headlines have left us with nothing more than an expensive sister-station to national networks.
Hebden pleads in her final paragraph for the support of its audience during these tough economic times. I have only one response; No Peggy, we need YOUR support. A shift to more community-based broadcasting and providing an alternative to the mainstream networks we can find anywhere else is what we both need - or A-Channel will simply become increasingly unnecessary, and obsolete.
There have been rebuttals by A-Channel high-ups, including evening news anchor Lance Chilton and while I'm going to avoid an all-out Barrie Examiner editorial war, I'd like to defend my position here.
When I first started watching A-Channel it was known as CKVR and provided local news to Barrie and the surrounding area. Somewhere between CKVR and A-Channel, we lost that same local station. For one, the news isn't about Barrie and surrounding area anymore. It's occasionally about Barrie, and more often about the '905 Belt' and the municipalities south of Simcoe. I can't remember the last time I saw a locally-produced program on their primetime lineup.
As the former employee of what I'll leave to be an unnamed public-service, I'll tell you personally that A-Channel is one of the most difficult media outlets to get in contact with regarding issues important to Barrie's citizens. Furthermore, as a communications student at Carleton this past year, the cutbacks to A-Channel earlier this year inspired me to write a paper about the importance of community media and the need for networks like the former New VR to exist. After several attempts to reach the network for comment, I received no word back. The conclusion I reached at the end of the paper is A-Channel no longer fit the criteria for community media. If A-Channel is unwilling to help itself, why should we pay the bill via bailout funds to assist it?
I opened this entry with a paragraph on my experiences with Rogers for a reason; that is that there is a difference between an intern and a volunteer. This is for you, Mr. Lance Chilton; A volunteer comes in whenever he or she wants to, and participates only as much or as little as they wish. They decide their own level of involvement, commitment and create their own schedule that works around them. An intern is the equivilant of an unpaid employment position, with set hours and menial duties.
I'm going to at least send a link to the Barrie Examiner, Bob Burton, to this blog, as I feel that in this digital age we don't need to continue this bickering through a newspaper. For those who've come here through the Examiner, thank you for taking an interest in community media, and I hope you realize how little A-Channel fits that profile. Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for updates on
Soundtrack.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Blog!
May 10, 2009
So why has it been over a week since the last blog update? Because I’ve been busy! Television production requires money and skill – and I’m trying to get as much as both of those as I possibly can.
I applied to volunteer at Rogers Television in Barrie at the suggestion of a former coworker, E.S. The next day, I got a call from their volunteer program about an orientation being held that night and I was welcome to attend. Not even 14 hours later I was operating a camera for the live-television program, DAYTIME.
During the final weeks of university I was trying to complete a paper on the value that local media provides in community, especially considering these troubling economic times. I had attempted to reach A-Channel for contact through several different venues, trying to reach a producer for comment on the story. I received absolutely no feedback, and when I was trying to find volunteer programs for media outlets in Barrie, I couldn’t quite decide if I was surprised or not that A-Channel didn’t offer one. In the days following my positive experiences at Rogers, I’ve come to understand a major difference between the two if both are to be considered local media. A news article in the Barrie Examiner motivated me to write a letter to the editor about A-Channel’ s value to the community is diminishing, and labeling itself community media is an outright lie to justify its budgetary expenditures. I was contacted by the editor to be assured the article would be published in Mondays edition, and so I’ll link to that as soon as it becomes available.
Volunteering at Rogers Television has been a tremendous experience. I never thought that on day one I would be operating a camera for a live television show. On a side note, it didn’t go very well, and I was kicked off after failing to deliver a shot that the director wanted, but that’s how this business goes. The director isn’t as mean as she sounds, I just think she was uninformed to my lack of experience on the camera.
Apparently everyone starts out on camera operating – but there are several things I’ll be learning. Directing, producing, sound and visual editing. It truly sounds like a wonderful experience that will be absolutely invaluable by the time I’ve committed a few months to the program. On top of the education, it’s got an accommodating schedule. I’m able to go in at 10am, prepare for DAYTIME and then assist with its filming and production and be out by noon. There are also so programs that film at 6:30. In short, it’s a perfect opportunity for me to learn the hands-on things that University just can’t provide. On top of that, it’s free! So in advance, thank you, Rogers Television!
I made some changes to Episodes 2 and 3. Eddie and Cain are now headed for a storage facility located near Toronto’s lakefront. I figured cops would be sitting on Davis’ house, or at least have investigated it. The point is, the Superhero Closet would be either too hard or too easy to find and thus an alternative needed to be presented. Cain and Eddie are still going to stumble upon the same wealth of information and equipment – just in a different spot.
I’m a little nervous to continue writing episode 3. It’s quite important in the scheme of the whole series, and needs to be treated with that in mind. In a nutshell the whole episode is about Derek and Riley rescuing Davis, and Eddie and Cain finding the info and equipment. Those are literally the only two important events in the episode – but they’ll shape everything to come.
Davis is on the verge of discovering what happened in 1986, Derek’s year of birth. While he’s aware of the precognitive born around the time of 1970, he hasn’t made the connection between the precognitive’s self-awakening and Derek’s birth. Derek is the result of a timeline being disturbed and a physical manifestation of its intent to protect itself. While all this information is going to be in the files that Eddie and Cain have by episodes’ end, no one’s going to make the connection for some time.
One of the most difficult exchanges I’m trying to write is Cain’s reaction to the information. He’s unaware that Derek is a superhero, he has his suspicions but they’re nowhere near the true explanation. Stumbling into Davis’ secret hideout is going to leave him with some questions about the detective, as well as Derek. Eddie, armed only with a single handgun, is either going to have to do his best to explain things to him. It’s quite the difficult exchange to write, because I mean, how would anyone react to it? I think I need to spend a little time getting to know Eddie and Cain a little bit more before I can know how this conversation is actually going to happen. Unfortunately it happens at the end of the first quarter of the episode, so it’s putting a damper on the rest of the episode coming out.
Not sure if there’s anything else to report on really. Today is Mother’s Day, so make her breakfast and clean the house!
So why has it been over a week since the last blog update? Because I’ve been busy! Television production requires money and skill – and I’m trying to get as much as both of those as I possibly can.
I applied to volunteer at Rogers Television in Barrie at the suggestion of a former coworker, E.S. The next day, I got a call from their volunteer program about an orientation being held that night and I was welcome to attend. Not even 14 hours later I was operating a camera for the live-television program, DAYTIME.
During the final weeks of university I was trying to complete a paper on the value that local media provides in community, especially considering these troubling economic times. I had attempted to reach A-Channel for contact through several different venues, trying to reach a producer for comment on the story. I received absolutely no feedback, and when I was trying to find volunteer programs for media outlets in Barrie, I couldn’t quite decide if I was surprised or not that A-Channel didn’t offer one. In the days following my positive experiences at Rogers, I’ve come to understand a major difference between the two if both are to be considered local media. A news article in the Barrie Examiner motivated me to write a letter to the editor about A-Channel’ s value to the community is diminishing, and labeling itself community media is an outright lie to justify its budgetary expenditures. I was contacted by the editor to be assured the article would be published in Mondays edition, and so I’ll link to that as soon as it becomes available.
Volunteering at Rogers Television has been a tremendous experience. I never thought that on day one I would be operating a camera for a live television show. On a side note, it didn’t go very well, and I was kicked off after failing to deliver a shot that the director wanted, but that’s how this business goes. The director isn’t as mean as she sounds, I just think she was uninformed to my lack of experience on the camera.
Apparently everyone starts out on camera operating – but there are several things I’ll be learning. Directing, producing, sound and visual editing. It truly sounds like a wonderful experience that will be absolutely invaluable by the time I’ve committed a few months to the program. On top of the education, it’s got an accommodating schedule. I’m able to go in at 10am, prepare for DAYTIME and then assist with its filming and production and be out by noon. There are also so programs that film at 6:30. In short, it’s a perfect opportunity for me to learn the hands-on things that University just can’t provide. On top of that, it’s free! So in advance, thank you, Rogers Television!
I made some changes to Episodes 2 and 3. Eddie and Cain are now headed for a storage facility located near Toronto’s lakefront. I figured cops would be sitting on Davis’ house, or at least have investigated it. The point is, the Superhero Closet would be either too hard or too easy to find and thus an alternative needed to be presented. Cain and Eddie are still going to stumble upon the same wealth of information and equipment – just in a different spot.
I’m a little nervous to continue writing episode 3. It’s quite important in the scheme of the whole series, and needs to be treated with that in mind. In a nutshell the whole episode is about Derek and Riley rescuing Davis, and Eddie and Cain finding the info and equipment. Those are literally the only two important events in the episode – but they’ll shape everything to come.
Davis is on the verge of discovering what happened in 1986, Derek’s year of birth. While he’s aware of the precognitive born around the time of 1970, he hasn’t made the connection between the precognitive’s self-awakening and Derek’s birth. Derek is the result of a timeline being disturbed and a physical manifestation of its intent to protect itself. While all this information is going to be in the files that Eddie and Cain have by episodes’ end, no one’s going to make the connection for some time.
One of the most difficult exchanges I’m trying to write is Cain’s reaction to the information. He’s unaware that Derek is a superhero, he has his suspicions but they’re nowhere near the true explanation. Stumbling into Davis’ secret hideout is going to leave him with some questions about the detective, as well as Derek. Eddie, armed only with a single handgun, is either going to have to do his best to explain things to him. It’s quite the difficult exchange to write, because I mean, how would anyone react to it? I think I need to spend a little time getting to know Eddie and Cain a little bit more before I can know how this conversation is actually going to happen. Unfortunately it happens at the end of the first quarter of the episode, so it’s putting a damper on the rest of the episode coming out.
Not sure if there’s anything else to report on really. Today is Mother’s Day, so make her breakfast and clean the house!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Apologies for the Lateness
I will definitely update this regularly. Feel free, in fact, I even encourage you to post your own suggestions in the comments section, or on Twitter @eddietucker or my Facebook fansite for SOUNDTRACK. That being said, here is the official post for the unofficial soundtrack of SOUNDTRACK!
APRIL 29, 2009
The name’s Zach, MuZach. Music is perhaps the most critical aspect of SOUNDTRACK. Canadian artists will fuel the supercharged official soundtrack of the series, and will be absolutely instrumental in its success.
I’ve began to compile a list, tentatively, of the music I’d like to see represented in SOUNDTRACK. On a side note, I’m looking for someone with industry connections to assist me in securing the rights to use any of the following songs. I’ve included the song name; artist; album; year of release and record label for all selections. There are in absolutely no particular order.
Metric – Satellite Mind – Fantasies (2009)
Tegan and Sara – Give Chase – The Con (B-Side, 2007)
Tegan and Sara – The Con – The Con (2007)
Tegan and Sara – Back in Your Head – The Con (2007)
Moneen – Don’t Ever Tell Locke… - The Red Tree (2006)
Alexisonfire – Accidents – Watch Out! (2003)
The Arcade Fire – No Cars Go – Neon Bible (2006)
Attack in Black – Young Leaves – Attack in Black (2006)
Broken Social Scene – 7/4 (Shoreline) – Broken Social Scene (2005)
Broken Social Scene – Major Label Debut (Fast) – EP To Be You and Me (2005)
Chromeo – Needy Girl – She’s in Control (2004)
The Constantines – On to You – Shine a Light (2003)
Controller.Controller – History – History (2003)
Controller.Controller – Disco Blackout – History (2003)
Danko Jones – Sound of Love – Born a Lion (2002)
Death From Above 1979 – Black History Month – You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004)
Death From Above 1979 – Blood on Our Hands – You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004)
Die Mannequin – Do It Or Die – Slaughter Daughter (2007)
Dragonette – Shock Box – Dragonette EP (2007)
Feist – I Feel It All – The Reminder (2007)
The Flatliners – This Respirator - - The Great Awake (2007)
Jakalope – Pretty Life – It Dreams (2004)
Joel Plaskett Emergency – Fashionable People - Ashtray Rock (2007)
Joel Plaskett Emergency – Snowed In / Cruisin – Ashtray Rock (2007)
Joel Plaskett Emergency – Extraordinary – Truthfully, Truthfully (2003)
Malajube – Montreal -40c – Trompe-L’oeil (2006)
Malajube – Les Collemboles – Labyrinthes (2009)
Mariannas Trench – Masterpiece Theatre Pt. 3 – Masterpiece Theatre (2009)
Metric – IOU – Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
Metric – Wet Blanket - Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
Moneen – Start Angry, End Mad – Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now? (2002)
Moneen – If Tragedy’s Addicting, Then Disaster’s An Addiction – The Red Tree (2006)
Moneen – The Freightening Reality That We’ll All Have to Grow Up and Settle Down One Day – The Red Tree (2006)
Most Serene Republic – Where Cedar Nouns and Adverbs Walk – Underwater Cinematographer (2005)
MSTRKRFT – D.A.N.C.E. (Justice Remix) –
The New Pornographers – Mass Romantic – Mass Romantic (2000)
Protest the Hero - Sequoia Throne – Fortress (2008)
Sam Roberts – Them Kids – Love At the End of the World (2008)
Sloan – If It Feels Good Do It – Pretty Together (2001)
Sloan – The Other Man – Pretty Together (2001)
Sloan – The Good in Everyone – (1998)
Stars – Ageless Beauty – Set Yourself On Fire (2004)
The Stills – Eastern Europe – Oceans Will Rise (2008)
The Stills – Killer Bees – Rememberese EP (2003)
The Stills – Ready For It – Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003)
Tokyo Police Club – Cheer It On! – A Lesson in Crime (2005)
The Weakerthans – Aside – Left and Leaving (2000)
Matthew Good Band – Load Me Up – Beautiful Midnight (1998)
Matthew Good Band – Indestructible – Underdogs (1997)
Matthew Good Band – Everything Is Automatic – Underdogs (1997)
Matthew Good – Weapon – Avalanche (2003)
Controller.Controller – Tigers Not Daughters – X-Amounts (2006)
Junior Boys – Caught in a Wave – So This is Goodbye (2006)
Junior Boys – Like a Child – So This is Goodbye (2006)
Junior Boys – In the Morning – So This is Goodbye (2006)
Metric – Gold Guns Girls – Fantasies (2009)
The Russian Futurists – Let’s Get Ready to Crumble – Me Myself & Rye... An Introduction to the Russian Futurists (2006)
Our Lady Peace – Naveed – Naveed (1998)
Our Lady Peace – One Man Army – Happiness is Not a Fish… (1999)
Metric – Dead Disco – Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
Kevin Drew – Frightening Lives – Spirit If… (2008)
Hot Hot Heat – Middle of Nowhere – Elevator (2005)
Hot Hot Heat – No, Not Now – Make Up the Breakdown (2002)
Chromeo – Destination: Overdrive – She’s in Control (2004)
Broken Social Scene – Cause = Time – You Forgot It In People (2003)
Broken Social Scene – Lover’s Spit – You Forgot It In People (2003)
Broken Social Scene – Stars and Sons – You Forgot It In People (2003)
Broken Social Scene – Fire Eye’d Boy – Broken Social Scene (2005)
Billy Talent – Try Honesty – Billy Talent (2003)
Billy Talent – The Ex – Billy Talent (2003)
Billy Talent – River Below – Billy Talent (2003)
Alexisonfire – This Could Be Anywhere in The World – Crisis (2006)
Alexisonfire – Waterwings (And Other Poolside Fashion Faux-Pas) – Alexisonfire (2003)
Alexisonfire – Pulmonary Archery – Alexisonfire (2003)
Billy Talent – Red Flag – Billy Talent 2 (2006)
Hot Hot Heat – Oh, Goddamnit – Makeup The Breakdown (2002)
Feist – My Moon, My Man – The Reminder (2007)
Non-Canadian Songs I’m Interested In:
The Kills – What New York Used to Be – Midnight Bloom (2008)
Saosin – Sleepers – Saosin (2007)
Saosin – Kept Secrets – The Grey (2008)
APRIL 29, 2009
The name’s Zach, MuZach. Music is perhaps the most critical aspect of SOUNDTRACK. Canadian artists will fuel the supercharged official soundtrack of the series, and will be absolutely instrumental in its success.
I’ve began to compile a list, tentatively, of the music I’d like to see represented in SOUNDTRACK. On a side note, I’m looking for someone with industry connections to assist me in securing the rights to use any of the following songs. I’ve included the song name; artist; album; year of release and record label for all selections. There are in absolutely no particular order.
Metric – Satellite Mind – Fantasies (2009)
Tegan and Sara – Give Chase – The Con (B-Side, 2007)
Tegan and Sara – The Con – The Con (2007)
Tegan and Sara – Back in Your Head – The Con (2007)
Moneen – Don’t Ever Tell Locke… - The Red Tree (2006)
Alexisonfire – Accidents – Watch Out! (2003)
The Arcade Fire – No Cars Go – Neon Bible (2006)
Attack in Black – Young Leaves – Attack in Black (2006)
Broken Social Scene – 7/4 (Shoreline) – Broken Social Scene (2005)
Broken Social Scene – Major Label Debut (Fast) – EP To Be You and Me (2005)
Chromeo – Needy Girl – She’s in Control (2004)
The Constantines – On to You – Shine a Light (2003)
Controller.Controller – History – History (2003)
Controller.Controller – Disco Blackout – History (2003)
Danko Jones – Sound of Love – Born a Lion (2002)
Death From Above 1979 – Black History Month – You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004)
Death From Above 1979 – Blood on Our Hands – You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004)
Die Mannequin – Do It Or Die – Slaughter Daughter (2007)
Dragonette – Shock Box – Dragonette EP (2007)
Feist – I Feel It All – The Reminder (2007)
The Flatliners – This Respirator - - The Great Awake (2007)
Jakalope – Pretty Life – It Dreams (2004)
Joel Plaskett Emergency – Fashionable People - Ashtray Rock (2007)
Joel Plaskett Emergency – Snowed In / Cruisin – Ashtray Rock (2007)
Joel Plaskett Emergency – Extraordinary – Truthfully, Truthfully (2003)
Malajube – Montreal -40c – Trompe-L’oeil (2006)
Malajube – Les Collemboles – Labyrinthes (2009)
Mariannas Trench – Masterpiece Theatre Pt. 3 – Masterpiece Theatre (2009)
Metric – IOU – Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
Metric – Wet Blanket - Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
Moneen – Start Angry, End Mad – Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now? (2002)
Moneen – If Tragedy’s Addicting, Then Disaster’s An Addiction – The Red Tree (2006)
Moneen – The Freightening Reality That We’ll All Have to Grow Up and Settle Down One Day – The Red Tree (2006)
Most Serene Republic – Where Cedar Nouns and Adverbs Walk – Underwater Cinematographer (2005)
MSTRKRFT – D.A.N.C.E. (Justice Remix) –
The New Pornographers – Mass Romantic – Mass Romantic (2000)
Protest the Hero - Sequoia Throne – Fortress (2008)
Sam Roberts – Them Kids – Love At the End of the World (2008)
Sloan – If It Feels Good Do It – Pretty Together (2001)
Sloan – The Other Man – Pretty Together (2001)
Sloan – The Good in Everyone – (1998)
Stars – Ageless Beauty – Set Yourself On Fire (2004)
The Stills – Eastern Europe – Oceans Will Rise (2008)
The Stills – Killer Bees – Rememberese EP (2003)
The Stills – Ready For It – Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003)
Tokyo Police Club – Cheer It On! – A Lesson in Crime (2005)
The Weakerthans – Aside – Left and Leaving (2000)
Matthew Good Band – Load Me Up – Beautiful Midnight (1998)
Matthew Good Band – Indestructible – Underdogs (1997)
Matthew Good Band – Everything Is Automatic – Underdogs (1997)
Matthew Good – Weapon – Avalanche (2003)
Controller.Controller – Tigers Not Daughters – X-Amounts (2006)
Junior Boys – Caught in a Wave – So This is Goodbye (2006)
Junior Boys – Like a Child – So This is Goodbye (2006)
Junior Boys – In the Morning – So This is Goodbye (2006)
Metric – Gold Guns Girls – Fantasies (2009)
The Russian Futurists – Let’s Get Ready to Crumble – Me Myself & Rye... An Introduction to the Russian Futurists (2006)
Our Lady Peace – Naveed – Naveed (1998)
Our Lady Peace – One Man Army – Happiness is Not a Fish… (1999)
Metric – Dead Disco – Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
Kevin Drew – Frightening Lives – Spirit If… (2008)
Hot Hot Heat – Middle of Nowhere – Elevator (2005)
Hot Hot Heat – No, Not Now – Make Up the Breakdown (2002)
Chromeo – Destination: Overdrive – She’s in Control (2004)
Broken Social Scene – Cause = Time – You Forgot It In People (2003)
Broken Social Scene – Lover’s Spit – You Forgot It In People (2003)
Broken Social Scene – Stars and Sons – You Forgot It In People (2003)
Broken Social Scene – Fire Eye’d Boy – Broken Social Scene (2005)
Billy Talent – Try Honesty – Billy Talent (2003)
Billy Talent – The Ex – Billy Talent (2003)
Billy Talent – River Below – Billy Talent (2003)
Alexisonfire – This Could Be Anywhere in The World – Crisis (2006)
Alexisonfire – Waterwings (And Other Poolside Fashion Faux-Pas) – Alexisonfire (2003)
Alexisonfire – Pulmonary Archery – Alexisonfire (2003)
Billy Talent – Red Flag – Billy Talent 2 (2006)
Hot Hot Heat – Oh, Goddamnit – Makeup The Breakdown (2002)
Feist – My Moon, My Man – The Reminder (2007)
Non-Canadian Songs I’m Interested In:
The Kills – What New York Used to Be – Midnight Bloom (2008)
Saosin – Sleepers – Saosin (2007)
Saosin – Kept Secrets – The Grey (2008)
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